Daycare & sleeping

I am after advice that is not CIO/CC.

I go back to work in around a month. Currently DD is bf to sleep most times. I cannot put her in the cot - she becomes HYSTERICAL. I've tried putting toys in there (I'm not one for toys in the cot but wanted her to be 'comfortable') its like she knows what my plan is and screams her lungs out. I can very rarely put her down once she's asleep, I have to hold her, which is nice sometimes but not practical for daycare.

The other method to get DD2 to sleep is rocking her in the pram with her fave nursery rhyme.

None of these methods can really be done at daycare. It's going to be a HUGE adjustment for us as it is, I'd like to try and make it easier

Tips & suggestions please :)

Have you had a chat to the centre staff? My little man had to be rocked to sleep and I was like you - petrified about how it would all work out.

It was fine. He started at around 12 months. The carers were great and willing to do whatever was required. Whilst they couldn't rock him to sleep in their arms as they simply couldn't do that for each child, they sat with him (generally one carer to two kids) and patted him off to sleep.

Took him a few days to get the hang of it and after that he was fine. He would still get upset on occasion, but no different to home so I wasn't worried. It was like he knew that I'm at childcare and this is how I go to sleep. He was also on a mat on the floor rather than a cot from the start and that helped create the difference to home.

Definatley have a chat to the staff like FabFiona has said. Whilst we didn't have to rock DD to sleep she did have certain sleep cues to help her go off to sleep & we just told the staff what they were & they did it and she had no issues sleeping at child care. In fact I think she slept better there than at home!

Don't know if this helps but this was my experience. My DD was in informal care, and she would either sleep in the car, crash late with cuddles or not sleep until i pcked her up and she had a breastfeed. She survived ok though.

Ok so maybe I'm just stressing for nothing? We start in 2 weeks (just checked the calendar - where does time go??!) a couple days a week to transition.

The ladies at the centre are great and will do whatever I ask them to :)

Thanks everyone :)

No you are stressing because you are a mother and it's in your job description!

let us know how you go.

:) true! I will update in bout a month or so. Might send her with her fave toy just for comfort lol

At my DS1's child care, they tend to sit with the kids and pat them to sleep ... very soft and quiet and gentle and soothing.

It also helps that they are doing the same thing as all the other little boys and girls, which (even at a very young age) can be soothing and comforting for them :)

If you're able to send expressed milk with her, then they can still do the bottle-cuddle-rock-cot routine, and the flavour and smell will still be there, and can be quite powerful.

Also, it can be surprising how differently bubs will act with their carers, cf you! Because when you're there, they want you, snuggles, boob, etc - with someone else, they will know that once the EBM is gone it's gone, so sleep time can be a good option.

It will work out :)

Thanks peanutter! Yep have a stash of EBM in the freezer

I think it helps to remember, they don't have to do what you do and viceversa, as long as they know CIO is not an option then as she transitions they will find what works for her in that enviroment.

when my DS was in daycare at 15-18 months, they just rocked him to sleep.
they often do manage to do things differently with different people and in different environments. you may be surprised.

I was very worried about DD2 as well who has always been very difficult to get down for a nap. I think, though, that they get a lot tireder at cc than at home plus they are very used to putting babies to sleep.

She slept like a dream there from Day 1. They know that I'm very anti DD crying whether it's during the day or before nap time and I told them to call me if it was more than a whimper.

She's been absolutely fine and they even took photos on Day 1 while she was asleep to reassure me.

Thanks everyone :) at her centre they ask how your routine is etc (you fill out a form and provide as much detail as possible) they follow it as closely as possible. I'm glad I've found a centre that's flexible like that.

I have started putting her in the cot, with patting/shhing and a hug if it's needed and it seems to be working so far. Today's nap only took a minute. Feeling a bit more comfortable about her going now :)

We have rocked babies to sleep in both arms and prams before - it is time consuming yes, but if it is what the baby needs, we do it. Talk to the centre and see what they are willing to do.

Well - I was a worrywart for nothing! Her naps at daycare are fine!

Good to hear MissM :)

My DD used to be quite difficult to get to sleep at daycare, so they rocked her to sleep. They do what they have to do! Then they found she liked this little rocker, so they'd put her in there with her milk and she'd go to sleep.

And you know what they do now? Almost nothing! When she gets tired they give her her cup of milk, and she goes over to a little toddler bed on the floor. When she's finished she just goes to sleep. On her own!

Now to see if she can do that at home for Daddy when I'm not there!

Isn't it funny how the kids act when they're with someone else!

I'm hoping we get to the stage of no help required to nap. Until then I know her primary carer is enjoying bubby snuggles :)

My DD was rocked at daycare until 18 months, when she entered the 2-3 'big kids' room and now lays down on her mat with all the other kids and sleeps (only for an hour at most).
I did go in and boob her to sleep a few times, but when she woke and I wasnt there, she got distressed, so we stopped that.
Discuss it with the centre.